Travel around our nation’s capital began at the WWII Memorial, where the five veterans of the Second World War posed with the wreath as the bugler played taps. Next along the journey were visits to the Lincoln, Korea, and Vietnam Memorials and watching the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team perform on the mall. They shook hands and greeted the visiting veterans afterward. After a brief stop at Iwo Jima, the group ended the day at Arlington National Cemetery. Four veterans presented a wreath in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the ten female veterans on the trip were honored with a presentation from the Women’s Memorial.
Heading back to DCA, Ace delivered dinner from Arby’s, who has been providing meals since the first flight in 2005! Veterans received “Mail Call” letters from home on the return flight. Once back in Greensboro, all veterans received a challenge coin, along with taking portraits and a final group photo.
For the veterans, the return parade was surreal. As many as a thousand Triad residents waited to cheer on the veterans as they proceeded through the crowd, in order of their conflict (WWII, Korea, Cold War, then Vietnam). The crowd and sounds from a bagpiper energized the exhausted veterans. Overwhelmed with emotions, the veterans were extremely grateful for this amazing experience, which was made possible by the Triad Honor Flight organization and its many generous supporters.
